William Blake recognized artmaking as a powerful tool to address the pressing social issues of his time. In this spirit, we invite you to experience his art and join Melissa Blount, Evanston-based artist and activist and creator of the Black Lives Matter Witness Quilt, to produce a new collaborative work of art.

Lawyer, parent, and former Chicago police officer, Jacqueline Battalora, author of Birth of a White Nation, reveals how the human category "white people" was first used in laws and the purpose it served. She will explore current-day consequences of this history and consider how we move toward shared ideals of justice.

In response to our continued request for D65 to improve academic gains for students of color, OPAL has requested that a Director of Black Student Achievement be hired. Dr Goren will share his thoughts.

Organizing to get police out of your school? Working on responses to harm in the classroom and staff room that do not involve criminalization? Want a curriculum that creates possibilities to imagine and build a world without prisons and borders? Building to protect students and families from immigration enforcement (ICE)?

"Ava DuVernay’s 13th is a documentary about how the Thirteenth Amendment led to mass incarceration in the United States, but it’s also a gorgeous, evocative, and maddening exploration of words: of their power, their roots, their permanence. It’s about those who wield those words and those made to kneel by them. Many Americans by now are familiar with the coded language of the country’s racial hegemony. Some shun certain words while others make anthems out of them."

Join OPAL & Unitarian Church of Evanston for the viewing of the documentry "13TH". Following the movie there will be a community discussion.

In support of a healthy, robust democracy and our mission of supporting new residents to hold elected office, we are hosting candidate forums in the auditorium of Chute Middle School (1400 Oakton Ave). Due to the large pool of candidates, we have spilt the forums in order to allow ample time for audience questions and candidate responses.

The event will follow the schedule below:Candidate Meet 'n Greet from 5:15-5:45pfollowed by the forum from 6-7:30p.

In support of a healthy, robust democracy and our mission of supporting new residents to hold elected office, we are hosting candidate forums in the auditorium of Chute Middle School (1400 Oakton Ave). Due to the large pool of candidates, we have spilt the forums in order to allow ample time for audience questions and candidate responses.

The event will be scheduled as following:Candidate Meet 'n Greet from 5:15-5:45pCandidate forum from 6-8

In support of a healthy, robust democracy and our mission of supporting new residents to hold elected office, we are hosting candidate forums in the Historic Foster Theater located in Family Focus (2100 Dewey). Due to the large pool of candidates, we have spilt the forums in order to allow ample time for audience questions and candidate responses.

The evening will begin with a Candidate Meet 'n Greet from 5:15-5:45pfollowed by the forum from 6-8p.

This fall OPAL is planning to launch an effort to pursue racial equity in budgeting at the City of Evanston. We applaud the efforts of the City staff to encourage citizen participation in the budget process by hosting meeting to elict community comment and provide a budget overview presentation.

In preparation to have a fully educated and engaged dialogue OPAL is hosting "Racial Equity in City Budgeting" on Saturday Sept 17, 9:30-11:30am @ Gibbs-Morrison (1823 Church). Please join us as we discuss how racial equity can be applied to budgeting, highlight some areas of concern from the current budget, and resource allocation disparities.

** Please wear an OPAL or a Black Lives Matter T-shirt.(Shirts can be purchased at Parade or email us at engage@opalevanston.com)

It's time to celebrate all that we've accomplished this year! Join us for a community picnic, hear our plans for the upcoming election and sign-up to make Evanston a community of Equity.Mason Park 1616 Florence Ave (at Church)

The Organization for Positive Action and Leadership (OPAL) works to achieve racial equity in Evanston through advocacy, voter education, civic engagement, and candidate development. OPAL:·engages and equips Evanston residents to actively participate in the decisions that affect their lives.·works to ensure that leadership reflects and prioritizes racial equity.·works to amplify the voices of Evanston residents who have been under-represented.